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The Cubs have a new member of their starting rotation, former Minnesota Twins righthander Scott Baker. Baker signed a one-year deal with the Cubs, according to a press release from the team.
Baker is 63-48 in his seven-year career with the Twins with a 4.15 ERA and 1.264 WHIP. In 2011, he made 23 appearances (21 starts) and had numbers better than his career averages (3.14 ERA, 1.17 WHIP). He missed the last part of the 2011 season with an elbow injury that eventually forced him to have Tommy John surgery at the beginning of the 2012 season. Baker did not pitch at all in 2012, except for one minor-league rehab appearance.
With nearly a year gone after the TJ surgery, Baker could be ready to go on Opening Day. Before the elbow issue, Baker was a reliable starter for the Twins from 2007-2011. On the other hand, there's a risk for any pitcher coming off TJ surgery. Baker turned 31 last September and could be a decent addition to the back end of the Cubs' rotation.